"Gotta Live Like We're Dying."

Week Two: You got nothing on me.

Okay, so college is all about learning, right? So here's what I learned this week.

Doing laundry on the weekend is a futile hope. Wishful thinking, completely pointless, so don't even try it. It's like a fight to the death to see who can reach the washing machine first. Yeah, no thanks, I'll pass... and just wear these same sweats until Monday.

It's important to know how to re-heat on the stove. So, there's a slight possibility that our microwave could be possessed. Because of this, we are currently living without this luxury and have only the stove at our disposal. I have never re-headed anything on the stove. This was a learning experience for me. But mostly I'm just eating cold food.

Don't ever forget to ring-check. There are few things more embarrassing than attempting to flirt with an already married man. Save yourself the hassle, do a ring-check.
 
Somedays you're just going to get to look like a hobo in class. When you're up at 5:00 for your first class of the day, there's not always going to be time to put on mascara. Or jeans for that matter. And you know what, you'll probably live.

The Piano Guys are a gift from the heavens. I learned the hard way that trying to study while listening to my usual genre of music (aka. the stuff with lyrics) is pretty much impossible. My mind just wants to sing with Hunter Hayes, not remember that the Stamp Act was in 1763 or that a mature bull can produce 25 billion spermatozoa a day. The solution? Music without lyrics (aka. The Piano Guys). I am a recent convert.

Kris Allen is probably the most attractive man alive. I went to his concert. I stood a foot away from him. I sang along with his angelic voice and screamed like the teenage girl I am. I admired his perfect biceps and that shirt that fit him perfectly, and his perfect hair, and his general perfection. I'm fairly convinced that I fell in love.

*swoon*

It pays off to be a girl who lifts. Besides like the obvious fact that it tones your arms and shoulders, there are benefits to weight-lifting. Like the fact that the weight room is packed with all of the best looking guys here at BYU-I and very few other girls, if any. I could probably just live there if it came down to it.

Just because she's pretty, doesn't mean you're not. So, I saw this quote somewhere (probably Pinterest, I won't lie) a couple months ago and at the time I was kinda like, "Okay, that's cute. Nice reminder, whatever." But now that I'm here at BYU-I, literally surrounded 24/7 by girls who somehow manage to look picture perfect all of the time, I have had to repeat this to myself over and over again. It's kinda tough, but I am too, so things'll work out.

I actually have kind of a thing for both American football and rugby. For my sports law class, everyone has to give an hour long presentation at some point throughout the semester on an international sport. I was assigned rugby. Until about a week ago, I knew nothing about the sport. About a thousand games later, I'm finally getting it. And surprisingly enough, I enjoy watching it. Well, mostly I just like watching a bunch of really big, muscular guys doing the haka before the game even starts, but same thing. (Except for the shorts. I don't get the shorts just yet.) For the same class, I've had to study up on American football for a debate that we are required to participate in. Which means, watching more games. If I am not a football/rugby expert by the end of this semester, then yeah.

Yeah, it's hard, but it's not impossible. The mountains of homework can be a little daunting. Saying "hey" to that guy that sits next to you in class is intimidating. Trying to balance "social" and "academic" is stressful. But it can all be done - I just gotta cowboy up. :)

"Take a Chance, Don't Ever Look Back."

And the battle of the homesickness begins.

Okay, so. I've officially completed my first week of classes. It's Friday night - the roomies and I are about to have a little family movie night, no big deal. I am completely caught up on homework and a little ahead in fact (*ahem* If you didn't already know, I'm kind of awesome).

So, I got to my dorm room on Friday, got to meet the girls (who are all sweet hearts, hands down), and got all my crap moved in. That pretty much took all day. When evening came around, I said goodbye to Mom for eight months *tear* and then the four of us went to the Freshman Talent Show. I think we were all a little skeptical when it came to actually going to this. A talent show... really. BUT, it was actually alot of fun and there are some seriously skilled people here at BYU-I. Pretty sure the guy who beat-boxed is my hero. Someday I'll learn, I swear it.

Yeah, that was the talent show. It kinda started out as a dance, lights and all - it was pretty legit. When we got home, everyone was exhausted and we all passed out. Good times.

SO, next day was Saturday and basically orientation. First off I went to a morning seminar thing for my major. The president/head guy over my major's area (Health and Life Sciences) just happens to be a retired bull rider. Yep. And not a bad looking one at that, for an older guy. But that made my day.

Anyway, then I took a couple tours (yeah, a couple. I'm no good with direction, I needed all of them), met a bunch of people I will never remember, and then went to the start of the year dance. Let me just say, college dances... Um, go to them. Because they're amazing. Or at least that one was. The music was good, the guys were attractive, and we all left exhausted and covered in sweat. Lovely, I know.

Let's see, then was Sunday, which meant single's ward. That was just awkward - let's move on.

Classes started on Monday and I'll just be honest, I was a nervous wreck. I didn't know where I was going, I left everywhere at least a half hour early to get where I thought I needed to be. I got turned around on campus and forgot several of my text books, but HEY I made it to every class on time. Oh and hey, did I mention, my very first class here at BYU-I ever, was at 6:00 in the morning? Yeah, it was. Go me.

So then Tuesday was basically the same thing, more new classes, still figuring out my schedule. The exciting thing about Tuesdays though (and Thursdays) is that I have my livestock reproduction class which is actually 5 miles off campus at the college livestock center. Best part of this class? All of the cowboys are in it. No joke. There are like a hundred. Not really, but there are enough that I am completely satisfied. We're talking boots galore. *sigh* I love that class. Also, yesterday in class, we got to dissect a cow uterus, which was actually really interesting. Anyway, so that's that.

Along with classes, I finally can get my gym back on! The gym here is huge and has basically everything I could ever want in it. So I've been taking advantage of that and loving every endorphin-fueled minute. I'm going to be such a beast by the time summer break comes back around. Y'all aren't even going to be able to recognize me, I tell you what.

 This was after I took my military fitness test. At 6:00 in the morning. In the freezing cold. Frankly, I'm a little surprised I didn't kill over, but I'm also really proud of myself. I did good enough for me.

Anyway, this first week has been really good. There's been some definite low points and I'm really starting to feel homesick now. I miss Lazy Mountain. I miss Hatchers Pass. I miss my Butte. Basically I miss mountains. And there's a few people I kinda, sorta, really, freaking miss too, but yeah.

The lovely Meghan sent me this picture from the picnic tables at the base of Lazy. Looking at it makes me more homesick than I have ever been in my life. Gah, okay, I gotta look away or I'm going to cry or something. 

It's still weird thinking of myself as a college student. I've been here over a week and it's not quite completely sunk in. I still feel like such a kid. But I think I've got things under control here in Idaho. It's hard being here and most of the time I wish I was back in Alaska, but I know things will get easier and someone up there is keeping an eye on me. Love and miss you all. Peace out. :)

"I'll Never Be That Girl Again."

Guys, it happened.

I'm a college freshman.

What.

Yesterday I left Alaska (whom I've had a steady relationship with for the past eighteen years) for eight+ months here in Idaho. Considering I've never actually been away from home for more than two weeks, this is kinda of a big deal.

I spent my last week in the Last Frontier saying goodbye to my compadres - some who I've known since the world pretty much began, others who are still kinda new to me. I don't cry often, y'all, but somehow I managed to all the way to Seattle. Pretty sure that's gotta break some kind of record - look it up.

But in any case, I'm here now, lying in a hotel surrounded by luggage and it's kinda hitting me... I'm freaking excited.

I move into my dorm the day after next, will finally get to meet my roommates, who I have stalked thoroughly on facebook (I have no shame), and then will try my utmost to survive orientation. I get the feeling that the next few weeks are gonna be completely terrifying. I'll probably get lost on campus, be completely awkward when it comes to meeting new people, and want to die from the soreness I know my new gym schedule is going to bring, but HEY, I'm ready for it. So what.

(Photo cred to Meghan Bartholomew)

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Miss Movin' On - Fifth Harmony (My song for the next forever.)